Wednesday, June 13, 2012

What Went Wrong: The Rockies hit extremely well. Got a starting effort from Josh Outman that sadly probably qualifies as a best case scenario. The bridge relievers (Adam Ottavino, Rex Brothers and Matt Belisle) weren't exactly sharp, but managed to get the ball to Rafael Betancourt with an 8-7 lead.

And then it happened. The 9th inning.

Turning Point: Coco Crisp led off that 9th inning with the most Coors Field bloop single possible (a popfly that dropped between LeMahieu, Cuddyer and Fowler), and then advanced to second on Jemile Weeks' bunt. I guess it was a sacrifice(?) but it took a great play from Betancourt and Helton to get that out.

That brings us to our big turning point here.

Crisp is an aggressive base stealer. He grabbed 49 bags last season. Had a respectable eight this year despite a DL stint. So naturally Betancourt pays him no attention and Crisp takes the 90 feet without so much as an acknowledge from Rosario, because he was already high-fiving Mike Gallego when the pitch was received.

A handful of pitches later, Crisp scored the tying run on a shallow flyball to right field. Michael Cuddyer made the play close at the plate, but Crisp expertly slid around the tag. So we had some bad luck involved here that put Crisp on base in the first place. That is what it is, and who knows how the Weeks at-bat plays out in a different scenario. But that lack of attention to detail with Crisp at second is what's mind-boggling and maddening.

In case you haven't heard (if you haven't, you're the only one), Troy Tulowitzki left his first rehab game this afternoon after aggravating the left groin injury that put him on the DL.Tulo had homered and singled prior to feeling pain and asking out of the game, so it looked like he was ready to pick up where he left off, but now he's back in Denver to receive further treatment and evaluation.

(I hate this season passionately)

Oh, and Carlos Gonzalez sits tonight to make room for the hot-hitting Tyler Colvin. Colvin will likely start for Helton tomorrow, and then has an easy path to the lineup this weekend with the DH in play.

Oakland Athletics (29-35)

Jemile Weeks (2B)

Colin Cowgill (CF)

Seth Smith (RF)

Yoenis Cespedes (LF)

Brandon Inge (3B)

Josh Donaldson (C)

Brandon Moss (1B)

Cliff Pennington (SS)

Tommy Milone (P)

Cespedes returns to Oakland's lineup after a week plus absence. That's wonderful news for my fantasy team, and terrible news for Josh Outman and the five Rockies relievers we'll be seeing tonight. Heads up on the concourse.